University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
The Angelo M. Mazzone III Head Coach Bob Chesney
Photo by: Isabella Serafini
UCLA Football Notebook – Energy and Competition Define Early Spring Practices
April 15, 2026 | Football
Through the opening stretch of UCLA's first six spring practices, the energy around the field and throughout The Wasserman Football Center has been unmistakable.
"It's been fun, man," Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava said. "A lot of new energy. Just going out here and competing with everybody has been fun."
That tone reflects the early imprint of first-year head coach Bob Chesney and his staff, who have infused everything the program does with the spirit of competition.
"He wants to win," UCLA defensive back Cole Martin said about Chesney. "Growing up as a kid, running around here, I just want to see this university back on top."
Difference On The Field
Players consistently point to Chesney's active, hands-on approach as a defining feature of the spring.
"Coach Chesney is different," Martin said. "He wants to be out there playing with us. It makes everybody better when your head coach is just as motivated and intrigued as you are."
Iamaleava Making An Impact
Iamaleava enters the spring in a different place than a year ago, when he did not participate in spring practices after transferring from the University of Tennessee.
"Last year when I got in, everything just felt like it was moving fast," he said. "Being able to come in, get a whole spring with the guys … it's been great bonding with them."
Iamaleava threw for 1,928 yards with 13 touchdowns and led the Bruins with 505 rushing yards in 2025. This season he is being asked to be even more of a leader off the field as well. Both coaches and teammates have encouraged him to be more vocal.
"Just being myself," Iamaleava said. "Being more vocal out there, talking to the guys, getting them to rally up."
Martin has noticed the difference.
"He's done a great job of being that guy we can look up to," Martin said. "The receivers can trust him, the linemen respect him."
Run Game In Focus
The running game has been a focal point throughout the spring, with Chesney and the coaching staff working with a diverse group of talented running backs, each with a different style.
"Everybody has their pluses and minuses," Chesney said. "Everybody has things they're really elite at and then things that they are mediocre at. Our job every day is to make sure we are playing to their strengths. Everybody has a little bit of difference to them. But they all need to be able to block in the pass game and they need to be able catch the ball out of the backfield. They need to be able to do all those things to round out their game, but I've been impressed with the whole group."
Iamaleava credited offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy for expanding his understanding of how the run game fits the offense.
"I definitely didn't know a lot about the run game," he said. "He's taken me to that next step."
Defense Creating Competition
The Bruins defensive front has turned heads throughout spring sessions, with Iamaleava singling out Sahir West.
"He's a problem, man," Iamaleava said.
West transferred from James Madison, where he was the Sun Belt Conference Rookie of the Year and a Second Team All-Sun Belt defensive lineman in 2025 as a redshirt freshman.
"I think on the defensive side, the inside group is playing really tough football right now and they need to continue to do that," Chesney said. "We just have to continue to take bigger steps on the defensive side."
Important Visitor
The legacy of Jackie Robinson, who became the first Black player to play in Major League Baseball in 1947 and who was a four-sport athlete (baseball, football, basketball and track) for UCLA from 1939-1941 continues to grow and impact future generations. Robinson's granddaughter Sonya Pankey Robinson was in Westwood this week and met with Chesney and the football team.
"To see how proud she is to talk about her grandfather and know what he went through and how hard he fought for what was right, it is just so impressive," Chesney said. "To have her here and talk about his life, and his life after baseball, I'm just really proud and honored that she was willing to come out here and talk to the team."
"It's been fun, man," Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava said. "A lot of new energy. Just going out here and competing with everybody has been fun."
That tone reflects the early imprint of first-year head coach Bob Chesney and his staff, who have infused everything the program does with the spirit of competition.
"He wants to win," UCLA defensive back Cole Martin said about Chesney. "Growing up as a kid, running around here, I just want to see this university back on top."
Difference On The Field
Players consistently point to Chesney's active, hands-on approach as a defining feature of the spring.
"Coach Chesney is different," Martin said. "He wants to be out there playing with us. It makes everybody better when your head coach is just as motivated and intrigued as you are."
Iamaleava Making An Impact
Iamaleava enters the spring in a different place than a year ago, when he did not participate in spring practices after transferring from the University of Tennessee.
"Last year when I got in, everything just felt like it was moving fast," he said. "Being able to come in, get a whole spring with the guys … it's been great bonding with them."
Iamaleava threw for 1,928 yards with 13 touchdowns and led the Bruins with 505 rushing yards in 2025. This season he is being asked to be even more of a leader off the field as well. Both coaches and teammates have encouraged him to be more vocal.
"Just being myself," Iamaleava said. "Being more vocal out there, talking to the guys, getting them to rally up."
Martin has noticed the difference.
"He's done a great job of being that guy we can look up to," Martin said. "The receivers can trust him, the linemen respect him."
QB1 speaks with the media about Coach Chesney.@nico_iamaleava8 #4sup pic.twitter.com/XtUmirZ51h
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) April 12, 2026
Run Game In Focus
The running game has been a focal point throughout the spring, with Chesney and the coaching staff working with a diverse group of talented running backs, each with a different style.
"Everybody has their pluses and minuses," Chesney said. "Everybody has things they're really elite at and then things that they are mediocre at. Our job every day is to make sure we are playing to their strengths. Everybody has a little bit of difference to them. But they all need to be able to block in the pass game and they need to be able catch the ball out of the backfield. They need to be able to do all those things to round out their game, but I've been impressed with the whole group."
Iamaleava credited offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy for expanding his understanding of how the run game fits the offense.
"I definitely didn't know a lot about the run game," he said. "He's taken me to that next step."
Defense Creating Competition
The Bruins defensive front has turned heads throughout spring sessions, with Iamaleava singling out Sahir West.
"He's a problem, man," Iamaleava said.
West transferred from James Madison, where he was the Sun Belt Conference Rookie of the Year and a Second Team All-Sun Belt defensive lineman in 2025 as a redshirt freshman.
"I think on the defensive side, the inside group is playing really tough football right now and they need to continue to do that," Chesney said. "We just have to continue to take bigger steps on the defensive side."
Important Visitor
The legacy of Jackie Robinson, who became the first Black player to play in Major League Baseball in 1947 and who was a four-sport athlete (baseball, football, basketball and track) for UCLA from 1939-1941 continues to grow and impact future generations. Robinson's granddaughter Sonya Pankey Robinson was in Westwood this week and met with Chesney and the football team.
"To see how proud she is to talk about her grandfather and know what he went through and how hard he fought for what was right, it is just so impressive," Chesney said. "To have her here and talk about his life, and his life after baseball, I'm just really proud and honored that she was willing to come out here and talk to the team."
It was an honor to have Sonya Pankey Robinson, Jackie Robinson's granddaughter, visit practice and share some words with the team!#JackieRobinsonDay #4sup pic.twitter.com/4RwCkmvMo9
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) April 15, 2026
Players Mentioned
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/ FootballUCLA Football Media Availability - Coach Chesney (April 14, 2026)
Tuesday, April 14
UCLA Football Media Availability - Cole Martin (April 11, 2026)
Saturday, April 11
UCLA Football Media Availability - Nico Iamaleava (April 11, 2026)
Saturday, April 11
UCLA Football Media Availability - Coach Hitschler (April 9, 2026)
Thursday, April 09